The Compliance Divas Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Did you know that the noises encountered in a dental practice can make dental team members susceptible to the development of permanent hearing loss?  Learn which devices and equipment produce the highest levels of sound, and what does OSHA say about exposure to high levels of sound in the workplace.  The Divas also discuss methods of protecting against hearing loss. Resources CDC/...

Send us Fan Mail Testing the dental unit water lines is a critical task in infection prevention and control.   But how do you test?  How often do you test? And, how do you find the time to test the waterlines?   The Divas explore the new Fast Check 15 dental unit waterline test and explain the step-by-step protocol to make this task simple to perform.  The Divas are joined by Brian Mergentime, of...

Send us Fan Mail You likely have Patients who are deaf or hard of hearing in your practice. Mis-understanding  recommended dental care can lead to poor outcomes. The Divas discuss patient’s rights, the dentist’s obligations, and effective communicate skills.  The podcast will address hearing issues that can develop for dental team members exposed to noises in the dental office. Resources: Univ. of...

Send us Fan Mail Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is intended to advance health care equity and reduce disparities in health care that may occur through discriminatory practices, or the inability of health care providers to communicate effectively with patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).  In this episode the Divas discuss what dental practices must do to come into complia...

Send us Fan Mail Sterilization monitoring, known as spore testing, is a key element in quality assurance for instrument sterilization.  Join the Divas for a lively discussion about protocols to follow if a spore test fails, comparison of in-office vs. mail testing, developing a mediation plan and much more. Resources: CDC Best Practices for Sterilization Monitoring in Dental Settings https://bit.l...

Send us Fan Mail Earlier this year, Change Healthcare, a division of United Health Group, experienced a security breach that affected many dental practices in the U.S.  The Protected Health Information of numerous patients was exposed in the breach.  Join the Divas as we discuss how the investigation is progressing, and what dental practices need to know about patient notifications required by the...

Send us Fan Mail Since the COVID pandemic, online education is every popular.  Flexibility and affordability is highly desirable. In-person education remains a valuable component to training. Explore the options and benefits of online and in-person training and CE with the Compliance Divas.  Resources: American Dental Association (ADA) - List of State Dental Boards   https://bit.ly/4dBAXxq Dental...

Send us Fan Mail For 40 years the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) has been the global leader for the Safest Dental Visit. In this episode, the Divas share updates from the recent conference. And be sure to listen in for OSAP's big rebranding announcement! Association for Dental Safety: https://www.osap.org/ Rebranding video: https://bit.ly/3yTYPfx                      ...

Send us Fan Mail By making small changes, you can make a big difference for patients with special needs and their families. Every community has patients with autism, and everyone with autism needs a dentist. In this episode, the Divas share ideas and resources when caring for patients with Autism. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, April 4). Data & Statistics on Autism Spectrum...

Send us Fan Mail Chemical Inventory Lists are one of the most misunderstood requirements of OSHA's Hazard Communication List. Is your Chemical Inventory List compliant?  Listen in as the Divas explain in more detail.  Guidance for Hazard Determination: https://www.osha.gov/hazcom/ghd053107#documentation  Haz Com Compliance Directives: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/enforcement/direc...

Send us Fan Mail Is using your personal cell phone for work-related tasks possibly a HIPAA violation?  This week the Divas discuss the pros and cons of using a personal device for work and what you should do to be compliant.  HealthIt: Managing Mobile Devices in Your Healthcare Organization: https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/fact-sheet-managing-mobile-devices-in-your-health-care-organiz...

Send us Fan Mail Someone Enters your practice who is hostile, angry, making threats and/or brandishing a weapon.   What would you do?  How can you prepare as a team for a potential situation like this?  The Divas discuss recent incidents of workplace violence in dentistry and what every team needs to know to be prepared.  It could save your life! OSHA General Duty Clause Letter of Interpretation ...

Send us Fan Mail How would you like to know the results of your dental unit waterlines in 15minutes? No more waiting days to find out if the water you are using during patient care is actually safe for patients. Check out the Sterisil FastCheck15 today! Solmetex: https://solmetex.com/sterisil-product-series/                                                   https://www.thecompliancedivas.com

Send us Fan Mail Technology is not only impacting sterilization centers, it's also impacting many lab procedures. This in turn impacts worker safety and compliance. Has your lab undergone a "makeover" recently with newer products and devices? If so, check out this episode of the Compliance Divas.  CDC Guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5217.pdf From Policy to Practice: OS...

Send us Fan Mail Recently, Walgreens was ordered to pay $205,000 in EEOC pregnancy and disability discrimination.  This podcast focuses on dealing with pregnant workers, especially clinical personnel such as assistants, hygienists, and dentists who are working hands-on with patients day-to-day.   American Dental Association Pregnancy Tips: https://bit.ly/3xEAgmh EEOC Pregnant Workers Fairness Act:...

Send us Fan Mail Since mid-March, the CDC has issued several health alerts through its Health Alert Network (HAN).  The most recent concerns are the increased number of tuberculosis cases in the U.S., a virulent form of meningococcal disease, and Avian Flu' which are all infectious respiratory diseases.   Learn what dental teams need to know and how to protect from these respiratory infection...

Send us Fan Mail Nitrous Oxide (N2O) sedation relieves anxiety and makes dental visits relaxing, even enjoyable. If your practice isn’t utilizing N20 sedation, The Divas provides insights on the many benefits.  And for those already using N2O, how confident are you in your maintenance  protocols for delivery systems, tubing,  and nasal masks?   The Compliance Divas are a trusted source for consist...

Send us Fan Mail The Divas continue to celebrate Dental Assistant Recognition Week (DARW) this month with Sherrie Busby, EDDA, CDSO, CDIPC from Heartland Dental. Check out this episode to learn about Sherrie's successful career in the DSO world. Sherrie's experience mentoring and training dental assistants across the country will inspire you to continue growing and learning as well! Dent...

Send us Fan Mail On March 21, 2024, the CDC issued a health alert through its Health Alert Network, regarding the growing number of measles cases throughout the U.S.   The Divas discuss signs and symptoms of measles, the potentially serious effects of measles infections and the potential hazards to members of the dental team.  CDC Measles Cases and Outbreaks    https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-ou...

Send us Fan Mail In an earlier podcast, the Divas discussed the new Corporate Transparency Act that went into effect January 1, 2024.  Recently, the constitutionality of this new federal law was challenged in an Alabama federal court. This may leave you wondering if you should comply or not, so don't miss this important update! Cooley Law Firm: https://bit.ly/3IL6L4B U.S. Chamber of Commerce...

Send us Fan Mail Learn about  OSHA citations issued in dentistry and how you can avoid them.  The Divas discuss real violations they have seen so you can avoid costly fines.  Be safe by avoiding these bloopers in your practice.  Sharps Whistle-blower Boston, Mass. https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/region1/04082015 Top ten OSHA Violations https://bit.ly/3x2KE6U Screening and Evaluating Safer D...

Send us Fan Mail Special guest, Julie Varney, CDA, RDA joins the Divas in honor of Dental Assistant Recognition Week (DARW). March 3–9, 2024 has been designated by the American Dental Assistants Association as the time to acknowledge and recognize this very special, multi-talented member of the dental team. Resources:   American Dental Assistants Association (ADAA):    https://www.adaausa.org/aws/...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever received a request for patient information from a third party and wondered if it was valid? When and what patient information to share with third parties who request records can be confusing. In this episode, the Divas simplify release of information under the HIPAA Privacy Rule.  Treatment/Payment/Healthcare operations: https://bit.ly/3Ieb73U Public Health Activitie...

Send us Fan Mail Preparing and conducting effective safety meetings is critical to maintaining a culture of safety in your dental practice.  Boring, ill-prepared meetings lead the team to believe their valuable time was wasted. This episode helps our listeners to prepare and conduct effective meetings that will contribute to your practice's safety and overall success.  12 Tips for Effective S...

Send us Fan Mail The Divas take a break from compliance to discuss the importance of being proactive about your health.  Our special guest, Dr. Uche Odiatu is beloved in the dental profession as a wellness expert.   Join us as he shares his 5 pillars of health. Resources: Dr. Uche's website:  www.druche.com Dr. Uche Odiatu - When Less Exercise is More    https://www.thecompliancedivas.com    ...